South Carolina LIHEAP helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills through the South Carolina Department of Administration, Office of Economic Opportunity (SC OEO), in coordination with Community Action Agencies (CAAs) serving all 46 South Carolina counties. Unlike most states, South Carolina’s LIHEAP explicitly allows eligible households to receive up to two LIHEAP services per calendar year — one for heating and one for cooling — and the program explicitly states that households do not need to have income to qualify.
South Carolina also has a distinctive auto-enrollment feature: households approved for LIHEAP or the Crisis Intervention Program automatically qualify for Duke Energy’s Customer Assistance Program (CAP), which provides a flat monthly credit of up to $42 on the electric bill for 12 months.
What Does South Carolina LIHEAP Cover?
Heating Assistance — a payment toward winter energy bills, paid directly to the utility company or fuel vendor. Benefit range: $200 minimum to $850 maximum. Program period: October 1 through April 30. Households may receive one heating service per program year.
Cooling Assistance — a payment toward summer cooling bills. Benefit range: $200 minimum to $775 maximum. Program period: April 1 through September 30. Households may receive one cooling service per program year.
Up to two services per year: South Carolina allows eligible households to receive both a heating payment and a cooling payment within the same calendar year — one per season, up to $1,500 per service. This two-payment allowance is explicitly stated in South Carolina’s LIHEAP materials.
Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) — emergency energy assistance for households facing an immediate heating or cooling crisis. Maximum: $1,000. Available year-round (July 1 through June 30 each fiscal year, or until CIP allocation is exhausted). Processing: 18 to 48 hours after receipt of all required documents.
Weatherization Assistance — free home energy efficiency upgrades. Income limit: 200% FPL (more inclusive than the 60% SMI standard for energy assistance). Available April 1 through September 30. You must first qualify for LIHEAP to be referred for weatherization.
“You Do Not Have to Have Income to Qualify”
South Carolina’s LIHEAP explicitly states that you do not have to have income to qualify for help — making it one of the very few states in this series with a zero-income eligibility provision. Palmetto Community Action Partnership (Palmetto CAP), the CAA serving Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, specifically lists this as a program feature.
For applicants with zero income: complete a Zero Income Declaration form when applying. Your CAA will guide you through this process.
South Carolina also excludes TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) from countable income when determining LIHEAP eligibility, based on the SC OEO model plan policy established in 2023.
South Carolina LIHEAP Income Limits 2026
South Carolina uses 60% of State Median Income (SMI) for all LIHEAP components. The official income guidelines for FY 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026) are published at oeo.sc.gov.
| Household Size | Annual Gross Income Limit (approx. 60% SC SMI) | Monthly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~$29,940 | ~$2,495 |
| 2 | ~$39,159 | ~$3,263 |
| 3 | ~$48,378 | ~$4,032 |
| 4 | ~$57,597 | ~$4,800 |
| 5 | ~$66,816 | ~$5,568 |
| 6 | ~$76,035 | ~$6,336 |
| Each additional | +$6,545/year | +$546/month |
Based on 60% South Carolina SMI for FY 2026. Add $6,545/year for each household member beyond 6. Confirm current figures at oeo.sc.gov or with your local CAA.
Priority populations: Once minimum income eligibility is established, priority is given to:
- Elderly households (age 60+)
- Disabled members
- Families with children age 5 and under
- Households paying the highest proportion of income for energy (highest energy burden)
SSI recipients may additionally qualify for a 20% discount on their electric and/or gas bills — contact your utility company about this SSI-specific discount.
For a national comparison of LIHEAP income thresholds, see the LIHEAP eligibility guide.
No asset limit: South Carolina LIHEAP has no asset test.
Duke Energy Customer Assistance Program (CAP) — Auto-Enrollment
When your LIHEAP or CIP application is approved, Duke Energy customers are automatically enrolled in Duke Energy’s Customer Assistance Program (CAP) — no separate application needed. CAP provides:
- A flat monthly credit of up to $42 on the Duke Energy bill
- For 12 months after LIHEAP approval
- Applied automatically to the account
South Carolina’s auto-enrollment in Duke Energy CAP upon LIHEAP approval is a distinctive feature not documented for any other state in this series.
How to Apply for South Carolina LIHEAP
Step 1 — Find Your Local Community Action Agency
South Carolina LIHEAP is applied for exclusively through your county’s CAA. SC OEO administers the program at the state level but does not take direct applications.
Find your local CAA:
- Visit oeo.sc.gov for the county CAA directory
- Call the SC OEO at 803-734-0662 for referrals
- For Berkeley, Charleston, or Dorchester County: contact Palmetto Community Action Partnership at 1-844-769-6448 (no walk-ins — appointment required)
For a general overview of the LIHEAP application process, see how to apply for LIHEAP. South Carolina’s SC OEO contact is in the LIHEAP phone number directory.
Step 2 — Gather Required Documents
- Photo ID for the applicant
- Proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status
- Social Security numbers for all household members
- Proof of income — pay stubs, SSI/TANF/Social Security award letters, or pension statements. Self-employed applicants: most recent federal tax forms (or quarterly tax report if a new business). Zero income: complete the Zero Income Declaration form.
- Most recent utility bill(s) showing account number and service address
- Final notice of disconnection (for crisis assistance — bring it with you or upload it)
Step 3 — Application Processing
Standard applications: within 18 to 48 hours of receiving all required documents. This processing timeline applies to all LIHEAP components, including crisis. Benefits are paid directly to the utility company.
Step 4 — Follow Up
Contact your local CAA for application status. For general guidance, see how to track your LIHEAP application status.
Appeal rights: If denied, you have 30 calendar days from the Notice of Denial to file a written appeal with your CAA. If denied at the CAA level, you have 20 calendar days to file with SC OEO. Appeals are addressed to: Attention: Legal Counsel, South Carolina Department of Administration, Office of Economic Opportunity, 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 366, Columbia, SC 29201.
South Carolina LIHEAP Funding 2026
South Carolina received $49,367,067 in federal LIHEAP funding for FY 2026. In FY 2024, South Carolina served 17,420 heating households, 3,994 cooling households, and 36,538 crisis households, with 476 weatherization projects completed. Browse LIHEAP funding by state to compare South Carolina with other states.
South Carolina’s crisis enrollment (36,538) vastly exceeds heating (17,420) and cooling (3,994) enrollment combined — reflecting the year-round availability and broad qualifying criteria of the CIP program.
South Carolina Utility Assistance Programs
Duke Energy Customer Assistance Program (CAP) — automatic $42/month credit for 12 months upon LIHEAP/CIP approval for Duke Energy customers. No separate application needed.
Duke Energy Share the Light Fund — heating bill assistance funded by Duke Power customers and Duke Energy shareholders; the Duke Energy Foundation matches individual contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $50, for a maximum corporate contribution of $500,000 annually. Contact Duke Energy or your local CAA.
Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities — Orangeburg County’s municipal utility offers its own low-income assistance; contact the Orangeburg DPU directly for details.
SC Electric & Gas (SCE&G) / Dominion Energy SC — contact Dominion Energy SC for available low-income programs and payment plans.
211: Dial 211 for referrals to local energy assistance, food, housing, and other community programs statewide.
Additional Resources for South Carolina Families
South Carolina SNAP: Check South Carolina SNAP income limits and see how to apply for SNAP in South Carolina.
South Carolina Medicaid (Healthy Connections): Check South Carolina Medicaid eligibility and income limits.
WIC: For families with a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mother, or child under 5. Check South Carolina WIC income eligibility.
211: Dial 211 for referrals to local energy assistance, food, housing, and other programs across South Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the income limits for South Carolina LIHEAP?
South Carolina uses 60% of State Median Income — approximately $4,800/month ($57,597/year) for a household of 4 in FY 2026. There is no asset limit. TANF is excluded from countable income. Zero-income households may qualify. Confirm current limits at oeo.sc.gov.
Can I get both heating and cooling assistance in the same year?
Yes — South Carolina allows eligible households to receive up to two LIHEAP services per calendar year: one heating payment (October–April) and one cooling payment (April–September), up to $1,500 per service.
Do I need to have income to apply?
No — South Carolina explicitly states that you do not need to have income to qualify. Zero-income households complete a Zero Income Declaration form at their local CAA.
What is the Duke Energy CAP auto-enrollment?
Duke Energy customers approved for LIHEAP or the Crisis Intervention Program are automatically enrolled in Duke Energy’s Customer Assistance Program, which applies a flat monthly credit of up to $42 to the account for 12 months. No separate application is needed.
How quickly does crisis assistance process?
Within 18 to 48 hours of receiving all required documents. Bring or upload your disconnection notice when you apply for the fastest processing.
For current South Carolina LIHEAP information and to find your local Community Action Agency, visit oeo.sc.gov or call 803-734-0662.